Information storage system

Abstract

A storage media and a storage area of a storage apparatus are associated, and the storage media is used to manage the contents of the storage apparatus. A storage media for storing files is detachably mounted on an information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus is connected to a storage apparatus via the Internet, the storage apparatus stores files corresponding to the files stored in the storage media, the storage media and the storage apparatus authenticate each other via the Internet, and the information processing apparatus reads files from or writes files into the storage media or the storage apparatus on the condition that the foregoing authentication is successful.

1 . An information storage system, comprising:
 a storage media for storing information; and   a storage apparatus for storing information corresponding to the information stored in the storage media;   wherein the storage media and the storage apparatus authenticate each other via a network; and   wherein the storage media executes the sending and receiving of information to and from the storage apparatus as the access target on the condition that the two-way authentication is successful.   
     
     
         2 . An information storage system, comprising:
 a storage media for storing information;   a storage apparatus for storing information corresponding to the information stored in the storage media; and   an information processing apparatus connected to the storage media with the storage media as an internal storage area, and connected to the storage apparatus via a network with the storage apparatus as an external storage area;   wherein the storage media and the storage apparatus authenticate each other via the information processing apparatus; and   wherein the information processing apparatus executes the sending and receiving of information to and from the storage media and the storage apparatus as the access targets on the condition that the two-way authentication between the storage media and the storage apparatus is successful.   
     
     
         3 . An information storage system, comprising:
 a storage media for storing a file;   a storage apparatus for storing a file corresponding to the file stored in the storage media; and   an information processing apparatus connected to the storage apparatus via a network;   wherein the information processing apparatus accesses the storage media and reads a designated file from the storage media when the file exists in the storage media, and accesses the storage apparatus based on access information including authentication information when the designated file does not exist in the storage media; and   wherein, in response to the access from the information processing apparatus, the storage apparatus reads the designated file from the storage area and transfers the designated file to the information processing apparatus on the condition that the authentication information contained in the access information and the authentication information existing in the storage apparatus coincide.   
     
     
         4 . The information storage system according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the storage media stores storage location information and access information of the file; and   wherein, in response to the access from the information processing apparatus, the storage apparatus determines the accessibility to a storage area corresponding to the storage media based on authentication information contained in the access information, and reads the designated file from the storage area and transfers the designated file to the information processing apparatus on the condition that a positive result is obtained in the determination.   
     
     
         5 . The information storage system according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the storage media stores storage location information and access information of the file; and   wherein the information processing apparatus accesses the storage media based on file information containing a file name and a file size, writes a designated file into the storage media if an unused area exists in the storage media, and accesses the storage apparatus based on the access information including authentication information if an unused area does not exist in the storage media; and   wherein, in response to the access from the information processing apparatus, the storage apparatus writes the designated file into the storage area on the condition that the authentication information contained in the access information and the authentication information existing in the storage apparatus coincide.   
     
     
         6 . The information storage system according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the storage media stores storage location information and access information of the file; and   wherein, in response to the access from the information processing apparatus, the storage apparatus determines the accessibility to a storage area corresponding to the storage media based on authentication information contained in the access information, and writes the designated file into the storage area on the condition that a positive result is obtained in the determination.   
     
     
         7 . The information storage system according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the storage media sends the stored file to the storage apparatus on the condition of two-way authentication with the storage apparatus, stores information of the file in a file management table, and stores information concerning the received file in the file management table upon receiving the file from the storage apparatus.   
     
     
         8 . The information storage system according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the storage media is mounted detachably on the information processing apparatus.   
     
     
         9 . The information storage system according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the storage media comprises an authentication mechanism for executing two-way authentication with the storage apparatus; and   wherein the authentication mechanism includes:   a mechanism for performing two-way authentication using public key infrastructure technology;   a mechanism for storing a digital certificate of a certificate authority and a digital certificate of a storage media issued by the certificate authority;   a mechanism for confirming whether the input digital certificate is a legitimate digital certificate issued by the certificate authority; and   a mechanism for outputting a digital certificate of a storage media issued by the certificate authority in order to certify the adequacy of the storage media.   
     
     
         10 . The information storage system according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the storage apparatus comprises an authentication mechanism for executing two-way authentication with the storage media; and   wherein the authentication mechanism includes:   a mechanism for performing two-way authentication using public key infrastructure technology;   a mechanism for storing a digital certificate of a certificate authority and a digital certificate of a storage media issued by the certificate authority;   a mechanism for confirming whether the input digital certificate is a legitimate digital certificate issued by the certificate authority; and   a mechanism for outputting a digital certificate of a storage media issued by the certificate authority in order to certify the adequacy of the storage apparatus.   
     
     
         11 . The information storage system according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the storage apparatus receives a file from the storage media, stores information of the received file in a storage unit, and sends a file name of the stored file to the storage media on the condition of two-way authentication with the storage media.   
     
     
         12 . The information storage system according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein, upon receiving a file send request designated with a file name from the storage media, the storage apparatus reads information of the file from a storage unit and sends the information of the file to the storage media un the condition of two-way authentication with the storage media.   
     
     
         13 . The information storage system according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein, upon deleting or overwriting a file stored in the storage media, the information processing apparatus reads the file from the storage media and transfers the file to the storage apparatus; and   wherein, upon receiving the file from the information processing apparatus, the storage apparatus stores a file name of the file and the time that the file was received.   
     
     
         14 . The information storage system according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the storage apparatus stores advertisement information and, upon receiving a file read request from the information processing apparatus and outputting the file to the information processing apparatus, adds the advertisement information to the file upon outputting the file.   
     
     
         15 . The information storage system according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein, when a file name of a file stored in the storage unit is designated, the storage apparatus outputs a list of the times that the file name of the file was stored, and outputs a file name of the file designated by the information processing apparatus and a file of the stored time; and   wherein the information processing apparatus acquires a designated file from the storage apparatus, and stores the acquired file in the storage media.